The statistics remain startling. Only 52 percent of African American males and 58 percent of Latino males graduate from high school in four years. In comparison, their white, non-Latino counterparts graduate in four years at a rate of 78 percent, according to a recent study by the Schott Foundation for Public Education.

Fueled by a $25,000 grant from Bank of America, DePaul University plans to help more minority males in public schools achieve academic success by expanding its work with the Chicago Public School’s Male Initiative Project (MIP).

Launched in Chicago in 2006, MIP is a network of school-based mentoring programs that bring together counselors and educators to address issues affecting the academic, personal and social success of African American and Latino males. The program includes a strong mentoring component and the support from Bank of America will enable DePaul to evaluate the effectiveness of this aspect.

“In 2008, DePaul evaluated the impact of mentoring in the Kenwood Brotherhood, which was started by school counselor Shelby T. Wyatt,” said Glenna Ousley, director of community outreach at DePaul. “We found that those in the program were doing better academically than males in the CPS system and within their own school. Now a more detailed evaluation is needed to identify what aspects of MIP’s mentoring programs are most effective so they can be replicated in additional schools to boost academic achievement among minority males and positively engage them within their schools and communities.”

The grant also will help create a digital social learning network that will enable students and mentors to gain knowledge, exchange ideas and connect to a broad range of opportunities.

Bank of America’s support comes at a critical time for the MIP program. CPS funding no longer exists for it and additional support is needed from teachers, counselors and volunteers. Funding DePaul’s MIP evaluation gives Bank of America the chance to help paint a more promising picture for academic success among young minority males.

“This program is an example of what can be done with effective partners like Kenwood Academy and DePaul University who use their expertise to create a focused, well-supported approach,” said Julie Chavez, Senior Vice President of Bank of America. “Bank of America is pleased to support a program that directly supports the academic achievement of Chicago’s middle and high school students.”

To date, MIP has touched the lives of more than 300 students attending 20 public schools in Chicago. DePaul first became involved with the initiative in 2006 when it began hosting MIP’s annual student development conferences and tapping faculty and staff talent to develop workshops based on themes and topics suggested by the project’s student participants. The mentoring program evaluation funded by Bank of America will allow DePaul to expand its active support for educational diversity and access. Findings from DePaul’s evaluation are anticipated in the summer of 2013.

About DePaul University

With approximately 25,000 students, DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, nonprofit university in the Midwest. The university offers about 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on three Chicago and three suburban campuses. Founded in 1898, DePaul University remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. More at www.depaul.edu.